Improvement in fence-posts



P. DYER & G. ADAIR.

Pence Post N0.'20|,l70. Patented March 12, 1878 mhremmgg @ia w.

N. PETERS. FHOTO-UTHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATE-S PA ENT OFFICE.

FAYETTE DYE AND GEoEGE ADAIR, OF ROCK FALLS, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,170, dated March 12, 1878; application filed August 30, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FAYETTE DYER and GEORGE ADAIR, of the village of Rock Falls, in the county of Whitesides and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fence-Posts, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawmgs.

The object of our invention is to provide such a mode of setting a fence-post on the ground as that the same may be more readily and firmly set, and less likely to decay.

Figure l is a perspective view of a series of posts embodying our invention, and Fig. 2 a perspective view of a modification thereof.

The post A may be of any suitable size; but the size we find most convenient is four feet long, two inches square at the upper end, sloping out to four inches by two at the bottom. This size makes it practicable to cut two posts from a plank two inches by six inches, by ripping the same diagonally. B B are stakes, of the same thickness as the postA.

The stakes B B are of any proper length, those we use being about two and one-half feet long, and are, respectively, rigidly clasped against the outer and inner surface of the post A, near the lower end of the latter, by the band 0.

As the boards, strips, or wires, as the case may be, which constitute the fence prevent the post from moving in the line of the fence, and as pressure is seldom or never brought against the post in that line, it is evident that the post requires bracing against pressure from within and from without. It is on these sides that our braces (the stakes B B) are set.

The mode of setting the post is as follows The post A is placed vertically, with the large end downward, on the locality where desired, with its wider sides perpendicular to the line of the fence. The band C is then placed around the stakes B B, near their top, in a recess or niche formed for its reception, and, thus attached to the stakes, slipped down over the post, and the stakes, respectively, started into the ground closely against the foot of the post. The stakes are then driven as nearly equally as practicable, the band being long enough to permit a limited separate motion of each stake during the driving.

As the stakes are driven, the band holds them rigidly against and parallel with the contiguous sides of the post until the band will permit no further driving of the stakes, when the nails or pins hereinafter mentioned are inserted, and the operation is complete.

Holes are made through the stakes into the post A a short distance below the band G, into which holes a pin or large nail may be lightly driven for the purpose of further preventing any lateral vibration.

The band 0 we make of iron, usually of round iron, about three-eighths of an inch in diameter.

An additional band for greater strength may be placed directly below the band C; but the one band will generally be found sufficient.

Fig. 2 is a modification of the stakes B B, showing iron ones, which are made to partially clasp the remaining sides of the post A, in which case the flanges of the iron stakes are a substitute for the pins in the wooden ones, and the stakes themselves more durable.

The advantages we claim for our invention are simplicity of construction, ease of setting the post, and economy, by increasing the material at the points of strain and decreasing it elsewhere.

A reduction of the post to a size at which it is practicable to paint it, with the fact that the post proper does not enter the ground, adds much to its durability. Also, the di vergence of the stakes occasioned by the slope of the sides of the post gives, in the full-sized post, practically a base in the line of pressure the width of the lower ends of the stakes (about one foot,) which, with the bracing position of the stakes, renders the post unusually firm. The stakes B B are virtually rendered integral with the post, and we have the advantage of a wide base in a conical hole without the expense of the former, or labor of digging the latter.

We do not limit ourselves to any partiouthe stakes B B, and the band C, substantially lar material or size of parts, nor do .we conas and for the purpose specified.

sider the nails or pins essential. FAYETTE DYER. What we claim as our invention, and desire GEORGE ADAIB. to secure by Letters Patent, is- Witnesses:

The improved fence-post represented in Fig. 0. Gr. BETTS, 1 of the drawing, composed of the post proper, H. (1. WARD. 

